Woman still in critical condition after being hit on Keene highway

December 17, 2008

LAKE PLACID - A Keene woman who was struck by a pickup truck Monday evening remained in critical condition this morning as police are still trying to figure out why she was walking in the middle of the road.

Mary L. Demorest, 46, was hit by a pickup truck driven by Douglas Bissonette, 66, of Lake Placid, at around 7:05 p.m. on Monday on state Route 73 near Gilmore Hill.

State police said Demorest had just been dropped off at her home on Route 73, and for reasons still unknown, she walked into the road and was hit by Bissonette's truck. Bissonette told police he didn't see Demorest until the last second and was unable to avoid her.

Police said Bissonette was not traveling over the posted 55-mile-per-hour speed limit and that road conditions at the time were wet.

Demorest was first taken by ambulance to Adirondack Medical Center in Lake Placid; from there she was moved to AMC Saranac Lake and then to Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vt., where she remains today.

Police said they believe Demorest is widowed and has no known family in the area.